Most environments across the Earth are experiencing accelerated rates of change due to human-driven causes. Habitat destruction or alteration, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species represent new challenges for diverse organisms as they struggle to survive and reproduce.

While these changes can be very rapid, organisms can also respond quickly to these new conditions via different routes of adaptation; phenotypic plasticity, genetic changes, and epigenetic alterations all have a role to play in allowing organisms to achieve higher fitness in novel environments.

I use integrative studies to investigate the processes and consequences of rapid adaptation by focusing on the interactions between eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) and an invasive predator, red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). Previous research has shown that these lizards have adapted behaviorally and morphologically to these ants within <70 years.

Questions I am investigating as part of my thesis work include:

∑Do lizards with these adaptations survive and grow better than lizards without them in the presence and absence of fire ants?

∑Does the presence of fire ants reverse existing latitudinal gradients in morphology, behavior, and stress responses of fence lizards across their range?

Scientific outreach and education are also a major focus of my work. I work with fellow Biology Graduate Students to design, build, and present original outreach opportunities at local schools and national science festivals. Iím also working to develop and co-teach a new class at Penn State for both grads and undergrads focused on how to effectively build outreach opportunities and communicate science to a variety of audiences.